If you have a family then you’ll know how hard it can be to keep the place clean and tidy when all around you are doing everything in their power to undo all your good work. Children seem to be able to be able to dirty your home in ways you wouldn’t have even thought possible, especially your kitchen floor where the majority of their meals seem to end up. So if you’re tearing your hair out wondering of there is a better way to keep your surfaces spotless with a minimum of fuss, you’ve probably wondered whether it’s worth investing in on of those new-fangled steam mops.
Steam mops have been around for a while now and many Moms swear by them. Some, however, will tell you they’re a complete waste of money and are no better than a good old mop and bucket. So what’s the reality? And should you invest in one?
The first thing you need to know is that there are two main types of steam mops – the first being an upgrade of a regular mop (ie the same basic shape) designed primarily for cleaning floors. The alternative is a more all-signing-all-dancing steam cleaner which will not only tackle floors but, through the use of various attachments, will also clean glass (windows, shower screens etc), metal such as your hob or barbeque, porcelain (toilets, bathroom fittings). They can even be used to ‘refresh’ carpets and fabrics such as clothes, curtains etc.
The second key piece of information you’ll need to know is that some steam cleaners use detergent whereas others don’t. Many Moms like the idea of being able to kill germs using heat alone and keeping their surfaces free of potentially harmful chemicals. Some of the reviews will tell you that the detergent models do in fact clean better than the detergent-free products but there seems to be plenty of evidence that many of the chemical-free cleaners do a fine job.
As yet I’ve not bought one myself but I’m giving it some serious thought and may take the plunge soon. If I do, I’ll definitely write another post to let you know my own experience.
If you’re planning to try one out I would suggest taking a look at a review site like this one if you live in USA or this one this one for readers in the UK. These can be a great source of buying tips and can help you work out the best models to buy for your budget.
Happy shopping and if you decide to go ahead and buy please send me your feedback so I can share with my readers.
